What did you do in the garden today?

[urbangardengirl]

They weren't at Tractor Supply so I just ordered some on Amazon, they'll arrive Saturday.
100+ Glass Gem Corn Seeds Non-GMO Popcorn Delicious Jewel-Toned, Glass-Like Kernels, Grown in USA. Rare! Ornamental and Edible! HARLEY SEEDS https://a.co/d/e8W9kb1

I have tried growing the glass gems for several years now and they just don't grow for me. Hope you have better luck! I love the idea of them!

 

[urbangardengirl]

I hate when they do that!

My bare roots are going in this weekend & I will cover them for anything in the low 20s or below. They'd probably be fine, but I don't want to take a chance when I can easily throw a frost cover over them.

Speaking of, I got my strawberry GreenStalk ready to go - mixed up my own mix of soil & it's beautiful. My compost is gorgeous, only wish I was able to sift it. Oh well. My awesome DH set me up to do it all at waist hight & accommodate my weight limit. It was so fun to play in the dirt again!

My compost:
View attachment 3778008

Home made potting mix:
View attachment 3778009

GreenStalk ready for strawberries & then stacking:
View attachment 3778010

Once that's done I'll get the next one ready for the onions. No clue when they're shipping, should be soon I would think.

Very nice! I just planted my GreenStalks with strawberries as well! I planted mint in the bottom layer to help keep the rats and mice away at night. Hope it helps!

 

[urbangardengirl]

Planted cucumber, purple hull cow pea, and eggplant seeds yesterday since we are getting some good rain today.

Oh I love this time of year! I also planted cucumber, about 8 varieties lol. My hubby and I decided this year we are doing a "pickle-off." Which is best, Chicago, Boston, Pickling, etc.... adds a little excitement to our garden life. Also planted several eggplants varieties and a ton of squash varieties. Now the looooooong wait for them to germinate and sprout. Patience is a virtue I continue to strive for.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Very nice! I just planted my GreenStalks with strawberries as well! I planted mint in the bottom layer to help keep the rats and mice away at night. Hope it helps!

I always mingle lots of Marigolds with everything, like they are my living mulch. I get some pests but not nearly as much as I used to. I try to stay organic here. I seem to get those darn vine bugs that attack cucumbers or bugs going for my squash. Gardening is different just 100 miles south of where I grew up, weather patterns are different, too. I've got mint plants growing around the chicken coops. I hadn't thought to try some in the garden areas. I have a lovely Lavender & it has done well here, so I will definitely plant more. Any plants that help repel the gluttonous insects or rodents going for veggies are welcome here! Anyone having success with this method, please feel free to share what works for you. I love Any ideas of plants cooperating, benefitting eacother, providing synergy or repelling nasties in a healthy manner.

 

[Sueby]

Very nice! I just planted my GreenStalks with strawberries as well! I planted mint in the bottom layer to help keep the rats and mice away at night. Hope it helps!

That's a great idea! My issues is chipmunks & squirrels. I was going to try insect netting to start & see how that works.

ETA: I usually use the plastic deer netting over the berries in the raised beds for the birds, will probably continue with that when they flower so the bees can get to them.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I eat raw cabbage, so delicious, no problems. Just green bell peppers upset the stomach. No gas thank goodness.

Sometimes I have trouble with raw cabbage but I’m thinking it’s because of age of the cabbage. I do love cabbage still. Raw cabbage and cucumbers are my biggest gas producers. But I live alone so that’s ok. I really prefer fresh raw vegetables over cooked but that’s not always possible during the winter months as often.

 

[urbangardengirl]

Planted cucumber, purple hull cow pea, and eggplant seeds yesterday since we are getting some good rain today.

I always mingle lots of Marigolds with everything, like they are my living mulch. I get some pests but nearly as much as I used to. I try to stay organic here. I seem to get those darn vine bugs that attack cucumbers or bugs going for my squash. Gardening is different just 100 miles south of where I grew up, weather patterns are different, too. I've got mint plants growing around the chicken coops. I hadn't thought to try some in the garden areas. I have a lovely Lavender & it has done well here, so I will definitely plant more. Any plants that help repel the gluttonous insects or rodents going for veggies are welcome here! Anyone having success with this method, please feel free to share what works for you. I love Any ideas of plants cooperating, benefitting eacother, providing synergy or repelling nasties in a healthy manner.

Marigolds are definitely a favorite of mine too. I also am lucky enough to have Nasturtium grow like a weed here and has been amazing at keeping hornworms away from my tomato plants. They either hate the smell, or it masks the smell of the tomato and they can't find it. Either way, nasturtium will always be in my garden for now on.

With the mint, just a precaution that it can take over everything if you aren't careful, at least here in Southern California. I plant it in a pot, then plant the whole pot in the areas I want it. Works great! Except the GreenStalks of course, they each get their own pocket in the GreenStalk.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I will be taking the hanging strawberry bags down before it gets too dark. I can set them on the picnic table then cover with a sheet. I’m hoping this is the last really cold blast we get this season. Your hubs sounds like a great guy @Sueby. Coming up with ways for you to continue doing what you love to do. I mixed the potting mix for the strawberry grow bags on my picnic table. Too much bending over is not fun. I was trying to keep the bags light so I mixed bagged garden soil, coir and perlite to help retain some water. I guess it really needs to warm up so the plants can start growing to see how the soil mix is working.

 

[urbangardengirl]

That's a great idea! My issues is chipmunks & squirrels. I was going to try insect netting to start & see how that works.

ETA: I usually use the plastic deer netting over the berries in the raised beds for the birds, will probably continue with that when they flower so the bees can get to them.

I had issues with the squirrels as well, then I got a Mini Schnauzer. lol They hate him, but I love him even more now that he chases them out of the yard all day. I am hoping this is the first year I get one of my nectarines instead of growing them for all the local critters. Netting hasn't really helped me so far and neither has individually wrapping each fruit, which let me tell you sounds as ridiculous as it felt doing it. I was so proud of myself for a week or two, then after one windy day....nothing but pits all around the tree and no more fruit to spare. Grrrrrr.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

With the mint, just a precaution that it can take over everything if you aren't careful, at least here in Southern California.

Oregano is the same way. I pruned my pot of it last year and dumped the trimmings into a garden box to decay…and a couple pieces were green enough to propagate. By the end of the summer it had taken over half the box in question.

I had issues with the squirrels as well, then I got a Mini Schnauzer. lol They hate him, but I love him even more now that he chases them out of the yard all day. I am hoping this is the first year I get one of my nectarines instead of growing them for all the local critters. Netting hasn't really helped me so far and neither has individually wrapping each fruit, which let me tell you sounds as ridiculous as it felt doing it. I was so proud of myself for a week or two, then after one windy day....nothing but pits all around the tree and no more fruit to spare. Grrrrrr.

I had similar issues with…something…on my roof. It didn’t hit my garden but it made a lot of noise at night. Then I got a cat and let him have some (supervised) exploration time outside on a regular basis, and stuffed some clumps of his shed fur in out of the way places. Much less noise now!